Administration

Eva S. McCraven, Ph.D. President and Chief Executive Officer

Dr. Eva S. McCraven has held executive positions at Hillview and its predecessor institutions since
joining the agency in 1969. She became chief executive officer and president in 2004. Dr. McCraven
has earned commendations from the City and County of Los Angeles and the State of California for her
work in improving and broadening the reach of mental health services. She designed, developed and
managed many of Hillview’s innovative program for Transitional Age Youth, older adults,
institutionalized adults, homeless people and mentally ill offenders. Under Dr. McCraven’s direction,
Hillview developed and operated long-term, transitional and supportive housing programs in several San
Fernando Valley locations.

Dr. McCraven received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in health administration from California
State University, Northridge and a master’s degree in psychology and a doctorate in clinical psychology
from Cambridge Graduate School, Los Angeles. She has been an active member of numerous business,
community and mental health professional organizations. Dr. McCraven served as an officer of the
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People on the local and regional levels. She
was named a “Women of Achievement” by the local Business and Professional Women/USA.

Jack L. Avila, L.C.S.W. Clinical Director

Jack L. Avila is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a bachelor’s degree in psychology from
California State University, Northridge, and a master’s degree from the School of Social Work,
University of Southern California.

Mr. Avila specializes in the treatment of severely and persistently mentally ill people, and he has
particular expertise in working with mentally ill offenders and people on conditional release from state
hospitals. He came to Hillview in 1977 as a psychiatric social worker, and later became a supervisor of
a 10-bed homeless residential and outreach program. He was named Clinical Supervisor in 1986 and Clinical Director in 1995.

Konstantinos N. Tripodis, M.D. Medical Director

Konstantinos N. Tripodis, M.D., joined Hillview in 1994 as a psychiatrist for the Assertive Community
Treatment program, which evolved into several Full Service Partnership programs of the Mental Health
Services Act. He was named Medical Director in 1995.

Dr. Tripodis earned his medical degree from the C.E.U.X. School of Medicine in Mexico and an M.D.
equivalent certificate from the University of California, Irvine. He completed internship and residency
programs, including serving as chief resident, at the UCLA/San Fernando Valley Psychiatry Residency Program,
University of California, Los Angeles, School of Medicine. He is a published writer in the mental health
field and has earned numerous awards and research grants.

Beth K. Meltzer joined the Hillview Executive Management Team in 1976 and has
held various executive posts within the organization. She was appointed to her current position of
Chief Operating Officer in 1996. Her oversight responsibilities at Hillview now include the following
departments: Financial Services, Accounting, Information Technology, Human Resources, Community
Relations, Facilities Management, Purchasing, and Dietary.

Ms. Meltzer holds a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology from the University
of California, Los Angeles. She earned her Master of Science degree in health science (health
administration option) from California State University, Northridge.

She is an active member of mental health and human resource professional organizations.

Julie Jones began her career as a counselor to young adults through UCLA Student Psychological
Services, where she also provided workshops on substance abuse relating to college life and coping with
stress. She came to Hillview in 1998 as a mental health rehabilitation specialist and was soon promoted to
run the Assertive Community Treatment program for people at risk for frequent hospitalization due to long-term
mental illness. She worked with mentally ill clients and their families, providing services that included dual
diagnosis, vocational, and educational counseling. Additionally, Ms. Jones assisted the Executive Director with
administrative and organizational support for various programs. As Program Director for FCCS and FSP programs, she
oversees all Hillview services for adults and older adults. As Director of Quality Improvement since 2004, she
insures compliance for Medi-Cal Program Review and State and Los Angeles County certification, including chart
audits and clinical staff training.

Ms. Jones, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, earned her graduate degree at National
University. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Carl C. McCraven Founder (May 26, 1926 – September 5, 2013)

Carl C. McCraven was among a small group of East San Fernando Valley leaders who recognized more than 50 years ago that a mental health agency would vastly improve the quality of life for people living in their community, a designated Federal Poverty Area.

Mr. McCraven came to the mental health field later in his career. In 1955, with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Howard University, he came to California from Washington, D.C. work on the early space program at Lockheed Aircraft in Burbank, where he was among the first African-American engineers. He immediately encountered segregation in housing; Mr. McCraven and his family could only find a home in the East San Fernando Valley. He soon became aware of the inadequacies of resources there, including the lack of local health care, employment, adequate housing, cultural and entertainment opportunities, and even sidewalks and streetlights. He vowed to improve conditions he found unacceptable.

In the mid-1960s, Mr. McCraven and fellow San Fernando Valley volunteer-leaders founded Pacoima Memorial Hospital. He served as the first Chairman of the Board. In 1966, following new federal guidelines from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and using grants from the Federal Community Mental Health Centers Act, the local leaders opened a community mental health center. It evolved into Hillview Mental Health Center, Inc.

Preferring his avocation to his 20-year aerospace vocation, Mr. McCraven changed the focus of his life. He enrolled at California State University, Northridge, for a master’s degree in health administration. At nights and on weekends, he participated in and held leadership positions in every major community organization related to health, social work, mental health, and youth activities. In 1972, he accepted a full-time position at Pacoima Memorial as Associate Administrator.

The NIMH soon approved Mr. McCraven as the mental health center's Executive Director. This was an honor in an industry where psychiatrists held high-ranking jobs at mental health centers. The NIMH acknowledged Mr. McCraven's talents, citing his community activism, life experiences and good common sense. They recognized Mr. McCraven's deep understanding of the importance of integrating health care, housing, employment, and education for people whose lives were diminished by segregation and poverty.

Throughout his life, Mr. McCraven contributed his leadership skills to advancing civil justice and equality. He was President of .The Southern Area Conference and The San Fernando Valley Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. He served on the national board and became a Life Member. He was an active member of The Urban League, The United Way and The American Red Cross. Throughout his life, he received numerous recognitions for his professional, volunteer and civil rights work. His most cherished honor, he always said, came in 2004 when Hillview dedicated its new headquarters building as the Carl C. McCraven Treatment Center.